Cajuns Battle But Mistakes Cost Them Against Miss. State

Turnovers, turnovers, turnovers. Ultimately that's what this game came down to as the Cajuns hung with the Mississippi State Bulldogs but ultimately came up short 38-28.

They continually shot themselves in the foot with four turnovers, three by quarterback Levi Lewis in the first half on an interception on his first throw of the ballgame and then fumbled the ball twice. Running back Trey Ragas also added one on the first fumble lost of his Cajuns career.

That Ragas fumble really helped to turn the tide in favor of Mississippi State in this one as it came on the second possession of the second half with UL trailing 28-14. Louisiana was driving and nearing the red-zone on that possession on the 26-yard line after that possession Mississippi State turned that mistake into a touchdown and a three-score lead at 35-14.

One thing you did like to see out of the Cajuns is that every single time the Bulldogs punched UL in the mouth they counter-punched right back scoring two consecutive touchdowns with a hard running Ragas on one of them to pull within a touchdown.

Unfortunately, the late push just wasn't enough as they ultimately came up short but there was a lot of positives to take from this game.

Levi Lewis was 24/39 for 267 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

As for the running backs Raymond Calais had eight carries for 80 yards, Ragas had nine totes for 63 yards and a touchdown, and Elijah Mitchell led the carry share with 14 for 31 yards and a score himself.

Cornerback Michael Jacquet made a big play with a strip-sack of Tommy Stevens with Chauncey Manac recovering the fumble and on special teams, UL recovered a ball that bounced off a Miss. State player in the first half that led to their first score.

Free Safety Percy Butler led the team in tackles with nine and Kris Moncrief also added a sack.

What's on tap next for the Cajuns? They'll have their home opener at Cajun Field welcoming in the Liberty Flames at 6:30 p.m. next Saturday.

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